So, last night on American Idol, we crawled, painfully at times, down a very (very) long, spotlit road to finally (finally!) finding out who the judges put in the Top 24. For the most part, no real surprises. Some familiar faces went home, but, mostly they were the right ones to go. There isn’t anyone in this batch of 24 finalists who can’t wail a good tune, so everyone left standing deserves a shot. However, based on personality, sure, there were some that I could have been perfectly fine with not having to watch any longer. Jovany. Jordan. James. (Hmmm, is it a J Thang?) But only one or two that were sent home would I have rather kept instead…(Hollie, Deondre...) So it’s all good in the end. It will be interesting, however, beginning next week when the voting goes public, to see who garners the support…and who doesn’t.

They announced they will split the performances over two nights, boys in one batch, girls in the other, starting Tuesday night, with the results announced on Thursday. But I didn’t hear how many were going home from each group. Did I just miss that?

I guess if there was any controversy at all, it would be that Sweet Boy Jacee went home. Now, I think that was the correct call. He’s got a truly angelic voice, but at his age, that voice it going to change any second. For the good, I think, as it will give him a bit of power behind that mellifluous tone of his. And to compete this year….yeah, this batch of powerhouses would have eaten him alive. But what good prep for him, this go, right? He’ll be back. The only other note was poor Simply Brett Lowenstein, he of the childhood bullying, trying to do his best to make his rejected compatriots feel better about the loss. I know his heart was in the right place, but there’s really just no way to pull that off when you’re the winner without looking at least a little disingenuous. But, good try, Red, good heart.

Which brings me to the whole duo rejections in the first place. You know, Two Go In, Only One Comes Out. Or in the case of the last guys, Three Go In, Brett Comes Out. Yeah, I know, I know, it’s “good tv” if by “good tv” you mean “needless, manufactured drama.” Me? No, not so good, really. Not only does it rob the winner of his moment to celebrate and sincerely thank the judges, and force them instead to sit there looking humble and guilty for winning….you also have the poor rejectee, who would have a tough enough time taking that in, while facing the judges, but NO, he also gets to get rejected in front of a fellow contestant. One who, oh yeah, happened to win that very thing he just didn’t. Awkward!

All the way around, it’s a sucky thing to do. Nobody wins, everybody loses. There is nothing “good” about that kind of “tv” to me. And here this season was working harder than ever to cast a more feel-good glow to the whole ordeal — I mean, did you notice most all of the rejected singers got a merciful two second airing of “you’re not going through” edit, whereas we got the whole drawn out process for the winners.

And yes, I know yesterday I was spouting about how ugly this industry is and how brutal it can be. But that’s not industry brutality geared to make them better singers and better at the business end of things…that’s just manufactured mean girl BS. I was kind of hoping we’d skip it this season. Apparently not.

But, we’re past all that now….and here are your Top 24 Complete with photos since you probably only know about five by name. (Just me? Okay then.)

Any favorites for you yet? Anyone you would give large dollars to send home? With their shirt on, this time? (Jovany.)

Let’s DISH, but first, we have Free Stuff to giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered this week’s free book giveaway. The winning Blog Babe this go around? Phyllis B!! Woot, woot!! Send me a mailing address and a few titles (in case I’m out of your first choice) and I’ll add your prize to the next mail out batch!

Okay. Now we can DISH!

Tags: Writing //